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Feels Like... #1
Feels Like Home
Family is messy and Jess knows that better than anyone.When her mum walked out on her as a child, her godmother Rachel stepped in, and now she's paying it forward by doing the same for her best friend.It doesn't make sense to everyone, least of all Jess's dad, but she knows he'll come around. What she's less sure of is how anyone will react if they find out that she's head over heels in love with Rachel's daughter, Melissa.Avoiding the inevitable only works for so long and when Melissa comes back from university, it's clear that the feeling is mutual. The question is, will Jess have the courage to risk the only other relationship that means as much - the one with her stand-in parent, Rachel?A fun friends to lovers romance about what happens when found family collides with the one you were born into.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2020
About the author
Jo Cox
13 books28 followersJo Cox writes character-driven fiction about women navigating love, family, and identity. Her contemporary novels centre queer women’s lives and are known for their emotional realism, strong ensemble casts, and relationships that develop with warmth, humour, and depth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
May 26, 2021
**'Storytelling is sometimes such a delectable agony. So basically writers should not rely on shared perception..'
Enjoyable read!
A very nice story. Highly recommended!
Enjoyable read!
A very nice story. Highly recommended!
February 6, 2022
Omg, all the feels...
Feels Like Home is a bit of the best friends to lovers cliché where the lesbian has a secret crush on her straight best friend. Or at least it's suppose to be like that, but the main characters always act like they're in the pre-dating stage where they go all out to be touchy-feely with each other all the time. And you know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you come across a good romance novel that just clicks with you? Yeah, I got that from this book and I can't help but fall in love with the main couple.
Jess and Melissa are great people individually, but they are absolutely wonderful together. I really love how they are with each other and the dynamics of their relationship. Like I said, they're all touchy-feely and Melissa is always all over Jess even though she's suppose to be the straight one. I actually enjoyed that and I love the way they banter too. It's like the rest of the world disappears when they're in the same room. And the delivery of the love confession was perfect. Omg, all the feels.
The storyline includes their relationships with their own families too which can sometimes be a little strained. But one thing that I kinda agree with Jess' father is Jess' living situation. I find it odd for Jess to not only house her ex-girlfriend, V, and V's baby, but to also play an active role in child-rearing. But that's just me stewing about a non-issue. Jealousy does not play out even the slightest because Jess and Melissa's relationship is pretty solid and V is a good person.
This one is on Kindle Unlimited. Solid book, solid romance. It's so heartwarming.
Feels Like Home is a bit of the best friends to lovers cliché where the lesbian has a secret crush on her straight best friend. Or at least it's suppose to be like that, but the main characters always act like they're in the pre-dating stage where they go all out to be touchy-feely with each other all the time. And you know that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you come across a good romance novel that just clicks with you? Yeah, I got that from this book and I can't help but fall in love with the main couple.
Jess and Melissa are great people individually, but they are absolutely wonderful together. I really love how they are with each other and the dynamics of their relationship. Like I said, they're all touchy-feely and Melissa is always all over Jess even though she's suppose to be the straight one. I actually enjoyed that and I love the way they banter too. It's like the rest of the world disappears when they're in the same room. And the delivery of the love confession was perfect. Omg, all the feels.
The storyline includes their relationships with their own families too which can sometimes be a little strained. But one thing that I kinda agree with Jess' father is Jess' living situation. I find it odd for Jess to not only house her ex-girlfriend, V, and V's baby, but to also play an active role in child-rearing. But that's just me stewing about a non-issue. Jealousy does not play out even the slightest because Jess and Melissa's relationship is pretty solid and V is a good person.
This one is on Kindle Unlimited. Solid book, solid romance. It's so heartwarming.
February 11, 2022
This was an interesting read and I'm still processing a little bit. There was quite a bit of this where the visuals didn't line up. I'm not a terribly visual reader, but even so I was thrown out on numerous occasions thinking "that's interesting action, but things don't work that way." But the characters were engaging and I liked the story more than a little.
Jess and Melissa were very confusing for quite some time. Melissa is all over Jess in very touchy ways. Stroking and leaning and it's clear there is a lot of physical comfort sought and given. I mean, theirs is a close friendship, but a lot of that came very close to crossing lines. This actually works for the story because if Melissa has always treated Jess this way, you can see how it would be hard for Jess to tell if there were feelings of a romantic nature there or not. Like, how would she know if something changed and Melissa was making a bid for intimacy? I liked that this is addressed (eventually) and their gaining some unity on where they stood was engaging.
The broader family situation was a bit wooden, but not necessarily in a bad way. Like, their parents play bad-guy roles at turns, and seem rather intractable. So it was nice when they showed more depth as the story matured. I rather liked how Jess's family situation played out, for example, even though it wasn't anything I'd call "good" as such. It was very human, and all kinds of messed up, and I liked that Jess took it as much in stride as she could but without tying herself up in knots about it. Ugh. That's vague and meaningless, isn't it? Let's just say that most of the story conflict comes from close family and that a lot of the story is Melissa and Jess navigating difficult situations that served to highlight how their relationship matured in the process.
In the end, I think this is a bit wobbly 3½ stars that I'm rounding up just because they were so cute and I liked where they ended up and how they got there. It's a bit too ideal and the story only works because I chose to buy into it, so it's not a pure win or anything. Still, enough of a fun story that I'll likely pick up another by the author.
A note about Steamy: There are four of five explicit sex scenes putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance. I skimmed the latter scenes as they were completely gratuitous. The first few worked well with the trajectory of the relationship development, though.
Jess and Melissa were very confusing for quite some time. Melissa is all over Jess in very touchy ways. Stroking and leaning and it's clear there is a lot of physical comfort sought and given. I mean, theirs is a close friendship, but a lot of that came very close to crossing lines. This actually works for the story because if Melissa has always treated Jess this way, you can see how it would be hard for Jess to tell if there were feelings of a romantic nature there or not. Like, how would she know if something changed and Melissa was making a bid for intimacy? I liked that this is addressed (eventually) and their gaining some unity on where they stood was engaging.
The broader family situation was a bit wooden, but not necessarily in a bad way. Like, their parents play bad-guy roles at turns, and seem rather intractable. So it was nice when they showed more depth as the story matured. I rather liked how Jess's family situation played out, for example, even though it wasn't anything I'd call "good" as such. It was very human, and all kinds of messed up, and I liked that Jess took it as much in stride as she could but without tying herself up in knots about it. Ugh. That's vague and meaningless, isn't it? Let's just say that most of the story conflict comes from close family and that a lot of the story is Melissa and Jess navigating difficult situations that served to highlight how their relationship matured in the process.
In the end, I think this is a bit wobbly 3½ stars that I'm rounding up just because they were so cute and I liked where they ended up and how they got there. It's a bit too ideal and the story only works because I chose to buy into it, so it's not a pure win or anything. Still, enough of a fun story that I'll likely pick up another by the author.
A note about Steamy: There are four of five explicit sex scenes putting this on the high end of my steam tolerance. I skimmed the latter scenes as they were completely gratuitous. The first few worked well with the trajectory of the relationship development, though.
October 24, 2020
I have to admit that this one took a lot for me to get into, and to hold my interest. I ended up skimming quite a bit.
Ultimately I just didn't feel the connection to the two love interests and their compatibility.
Jess seems great, hardworking, cares about her family and friends, extremely loyal and steps up, has her issues but overcomes them.
However, her love interest Melissa screams the opposite of all these things, flighty and immature, doesn't seem to care about her friends or relatives. Just wants to coast by in life and have fun and never be serious, all while Jess is saving for a home of her own and Melissa mooches on.
Melissa is literally all over Jess before they are together. What annoyed me was she admits to the feelings and states she has been trying to motivate (manipulate) Jess into action through this prolonged body contact, cheek, nose and forehead kisses, massages and sneaking into her bed to snuggle.
All without ever telling Jess her feelings, and making Jess uncomfortable and heartbroken thinking this is just how straight girls are with their besties.
Talk about alarm bells and warning signs. Holy Boundary issues and miscommunication, Batman!!
By the end they are together and seem happy, even moving in together , but the conversation before that was VERY wishy-washy on Melissa's part and almost seemed non-committal!
I also didn't care for the ending of Melissa forcing the issue of a puppy and never stepping up for the relationship let alone the mortgage!
The whole relationship felt too problematic for me.
Ultimately I just didn't feel the connection to the two love interests and their compatibility.
Jess seems great, hardworking, cares about her family and friends, extremely loyal and steps up, has her issues but overcomes them.
However, her love interest Melissa screams the opposite of all these things, flighty and immature, doesn't seem to care about her friends or relatives. Just wants to coast by in life and have fun and never be serious, all while Jess is saving for a home of her own and Melissa mooches on.
Melissa is literally all over Jess before they are together. What annoyed me was she admits to the feelings and states she has been trying to motivate (manipulate) Jess into action through this prolonged body contact, cheek, nose and forehead kisses, massages and sneaking into her bed to snuggle.
All without ever telling Jess her feelings, and making Jess uncomfortable and heartbroken thinking this is just how straight girls are with their besties.
Talk about alarm bells and warning signs. Holy Boundary issues and miscommunication, Batman!!
By the end they are together and seem happy, even moving in together , but the conversation before that was VERY wishy-washy on Melissa's part and almost seemed non-committal!
I also didn't care for the ending of Melissa forcing the issue of a puppy and never stepping up for the relationship let alone the mortgage!
The whole relationship felt too problematic for me.
February 4, 2021
it wasn't badly written but there was absolutely no tension to anything in it and the plot had zero drive
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li, bi side character
Rep: lesbian mc, bi li, bi side character
July 19, 2020
Ngawww... such a lovely story!
I love all the banter, especially between Jess and Melissa... they're hilarious.
I love all the banter, especially between Jess and Melissa... they're hilarious.
April 23, 2021
Great friends to lovers story with a whole lot of heart. Jess has her hands full dealing with all the people in her life. Most of all trying to hide her love for her best friend Melissa. Melissa has come home with new feelings for Jess now she has to figure out how to tell her. It's a lot of fun watching them work through this new relationship. Their friends and family add even more trials for them. I can't wait to read the next book since I enjoyed this one so much.
December 2, 2020
I realized I have only rated but never have written a review for this wonderful book. After the novella Sidelined this is Jo‘s first novel and I loved it so much. The characters are just fantastic together. All this chemistry, they just fit. I know there will be a sequel out soon and I am already so excited about it. I highly recommend this and all of Jo‘s other books.
December 11, 2020
A wonderful book! I loved it! The authors prose flows so effortlessly, and the sarcasm, wit, and banter between the characters is second-to-none. This is a beautiful friends-to-lovers romance with a couple of deeper topics peppered throughout. Highly recommended, and I can't wait for the sequel that is due out on the 18th!
February 3, 2022
Solid 5 stars. I really enjoyed this best friends to lovers story. The author doesn’t torture us too much with our friends confessing their mutual attraction. There is just the right amount of angst in my opinion. There is also a bit of family drama to keep thinkings interesting. The writing is really good too. I would totally read this again and I plan to read book two.
June 27, 2020
3.75⭐
February 21, 2022
Just didn't float my boat - checked to make sure not written for kids (YA) but no indication it was. Not for me, sorry.
April 17, 2025
I found this gorgeous book on my TBR shelves! What a beautiful friends to lovers love story! Jess and Melissa are best friends who each harbor crushes on the other. After Kat who owns the local
book store talks to both women to get them together.
We follow their lives and their families in this wonderful book. I love this book! 5 stars!
book store talks to both women to get them together.
We follow their lives and their families in this wonderful book. I love this book! 5 stars!
June 3, 2021
This is a friends to lovers lesbian romance with some of the best dialogue I’ve ever read. I enjoyed the witty banter so much. Jess & Melissa had such a fun connection and the chemistry was evident. This was my first book by this author but I already know it won’t be my last.
September 26, 2020
This was way better than I had hoped for, I really liked the 2 MCS and the story was good. Pleasantly surprised 4plus stars
December 2, 2020
Lovely Story! 🥰
When you finish the book you will want more of them, that’s for sure! You can feel the chemistry between the MC through Jo’s words, and the banter between them? Just lovely and so funny they definitely complemented each other!
Lovely, romantic and all but don’t get sidetracked with that because *clears throat* the sex scenes are whew 🔥 🌶 if this is Jo’s debut I can’t wait for more of her work!
When you finish the book you will want more of them, that’s for sure! You can feel the chemistry between the MC through Jo’s words, and the banter between them? Just lovely and so funny they definitely complemented each other!
Lovely, romantic and all but don’t get sidetracked with that because *clears throat* the sex scenes are whew 🔥 🌶 if this is Jo’s debut I can’t wait for more of her work!
December 4, 2020
Jess and Melissa have been friends all their lives. This is a great, kind of slow burn, friends to lovers story that makes you feel good. There's some angst and everything bad that can happens, happens.
But Melissa and Jess have a wonderful relationship, with a few very sexy scenes and a sequel coming soon.
Great book, great story and I I'll go look for more content from Jo Cox.
But Melissa and Jess have a wonderful relationship, with a few very sexy scenes and a sequel coming soon.
Great book, great story and I I'll go look for more content from Jo Cox.
March 11, 2025
a 3.5 maybe, but I really enjoyed the relationship dynamics, for like all of them! it felt different, quite refreshing
June 20, 2020
Great first novel! Can't wait for more....
Great British friends to lovers story with characters you can't help but warm to.
Jess is a young woman who has been in love with her best friend Melissa for years. The story takes us on Jess's journey as she figures out her relationship with Mel, deals with a variety family issues and takes steps to lay the foundation for her future. You walk every step in Jess's shoes and feel her turmoil, as well as all her highs and lows.
This was a real breath of fresh air and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Great British friends to lovers story with characters you can't help but warm to.
Jess is a young woman who has been in love with her best friend Melissa for years. The story takes us on Jess's journey as she figures out her relationship with Mel, deals with a variety family issues and takes steps to lay the foundation for her future. You walk every step in Jess's shoes and feel her turmoil, as well as all her highs and lows.
This was a real breath of fresh air and I can't wait to read more from this author.
August 20, 2020
Great Story!
I really loved the premise of this story and where it took us readers. Jess loving Melissa from afar for so long and being a kind hearted person sets up her character. Melissa having tremendous trouble with her Mum and her idea of what’s best and her not so subtle interest in Jess. Bring in Jess’s ex girlfriend and her baby and you have a great love story in the makes. Toss in Jess’s Dad and his mysterious love life and Melissa’s Mum who is like a Mum to Jess and you can’t help fall in love with this book.
I did find it had dragged a little but not enough to change the five star rating.
I really loved the premise of this story and where it took us readers. Jess loving Melissa from afar for so long and being a kind hearted person sets up her character. Melissa having tremendous trouble with her Mum and her idea of what’s best and her not so subtle interest in Jess. Bring in Jess’s ex girlfriend and her baby and you have a great love story in the makes. Toss in Jess’s Dad and his mysterious love life and Melissa’s Mum who is like a Mum to Jess and you can’t help fall in love with this book.
I did find it had dragged a little but not enough to change the five star rating.
January 23, 2024
Jess works with her father in his property rental business, and lives in a small terraced house in England with her ex-girlfriend V and V’s toddler daughter Grace. Melissa is Jess’s best friend, just returning from university in Wales, and having a hard time coping with her mother’s criticism of almost every decision Melissa makes about her life.
This is Jo Cox’s first novel, and it is exceptional. Jess has her found family with V and Grace, and later Melissa. This is about Jess admitting her crush on Melissa, and not being scared that Melissa would leave her like her mother left when she was a child. There are lots of steamy scenes, and lots of British humour. I really liked that Jess and Melissa were able to be so close, even when they weren’t together. Their romance is really sweet. A very good story.
This is Jo Cox’s first novel, and it is exceptional. Jess has her found family with V and Grace, and later Melissa. This is about Jess admitting her crush on Melissa, and not being scared that Melissa would leave her like her mother left when she was a child. There are lots of steamy scenes, and lots of British humour. I really liked that Jess and Melissa were able to be so close, even when they weren’t together. Their romance is really sweet. A very good story.
October 22, 2020
Loved!
Jess is in love with her best friend Melissa who is returning home from college! Jess tries to hide her feelings because Melissa’s family is like her very own and she doesn’t want to ruin things!
Jess and Melissa are so adorable together you just know they are meant to be together!
Jess is in love with her best friend Melissa who is returning home from college! Jess tries to hide her feelings because Melissa’s family is like her very own and she doesn’t want to ruin things!
Jess and Melissa are so adorable together you just know they are meant to be together!
July 10, 2020
Good friends to lovers romance and I really enjoyed the author got the main character together a little earlier than usual. It gives us time to spend time with them as a couple and see how they handle drama outside of themselves and how they support each other.
June 9, 2021
The book starts well, but very quickly I began to have my doubts about the main characters. It didn’t help that the main plot is based on; “I really fancy someone, but I can't tell them in case it doesn't work out, but I'm still going to keep hanging around them”, which dragged on a bit too long. Eventually this is sorted and for a while the story becomes mainly about sex.
Overall I didn’t particularly enjoy the book, I found Jess and Melissa fairly irritating, in their different ways and more like teenagers than adults.
Overall I didn’t particularly enjoy the book, I found Jess and Melissa fairly irritating, in their different ways and more like teenagers than adults.
July 13, 2020
What happens if you crush on someone you really shouldn't be crushing on?
I stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. It was a good debut by Jo Cox. I would read other works by the author.
Romance story during regular life events.
I stayed up till the wee hours of the morning to finish this book. It was a good debut by Jo Cox. I would read other works by the author.
Romance story during regular life events.
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January 19, 2021This book was really cute. This was my first experience with Jo Cox and I am really pleased with it. Of course, gotta love the LGBTQ+ representation. I am also a massive fan of friends to lovers, I think it’s one of my favorite tropes and this one was done really well.
Jess has loved her best friend Melissa for years. She has tried everything to make it go away, including staying away and not visiting as much when Melissa moved to Wales. Not that Melissa is home and they work together, Jess is even less able to control her feelings. Worried about ruining their friendship if she admits her feelings and combusting is she continues to hide them, where will this friendship lead to?
As I mentioned above I really enjoyed this book. I liked both characters a lot and I thought they were pretty dynamic. My biggest complaint is both of the main characters parents. Like for once, I want to read about some supportive parents who don’t push their views and dictate what their kids should do as if they are all knowing. Like geeze, that was pissing me off and I have read a few books recently where the parents are similar and it annoys me to no end.
Beyond that, it was really good and I think the parents redeemed themselves a little bit, though I would have liked a bit more.
https://thetravellingreader96.wordpre...
Jess has loved her best friend Melissa for years. She has tried everything to make it go away, including staying away and not visiting as much when Melissa moved to Wales. Not that Melissa is home and they work together, Jess is even less able to control her feelings. Worried about ruining their friendship if she admits her feelings and combusting is she continues to hide them, where will this friendship lead to?
As I mentioned above I really enjoyed this book. I liked both characters a lot and I thought they were pretty dynamic. My biggest complaint is both of the main characters parents. Like for once, I want to read about some supportive parents who don’t push their views and dictate what their kids should do as if they are all knowing. Like geeze, that was pissing me off and I have read a few books recently where the parents are similar and it annoys me to no end.
Beyond that, it was really good and I think the parents redeemed themselves a little bit, though I would have liked a bit more.
https://thetravellingreader96.wordpre...
October 23, 2023
This was a creative and fun story, with a couple minor down sides. I thought the characters were great, the setup with the shared apartment was unique, intertwined lives, family all over the place, there was just a lot to like.
I did grapple a bit with the writing at times, trying to figure out who was speaking or the like. That ended up being a bit more of a distraction from the story than I would have liked. In that sense it did have a bit of a first-novel feel.
But my main issue I guess was that everything was too easy. The majority of the obstacles in the story seemed to be one or both characters fearing something bad was going to happen, and then it not actually happening. So it made for a very comfortable read, but it felt a bit like the characters won the lottery — everything that could have gone wrong, didn’t. Is that a problem? I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. I don’t need every read to be super angsty, and it was actually nice to get over the will they/won’t they quite early and put the focus of the story elsewhere. But I still felt like the characters could have used a few more struggles than they actually got.
All that said, it was a sweet story and I enjoyed my time with it. I’ll be back for more to see how V and Grace make out.
I did grapple a bit with the writing at times, trying to figure out who was speaking or the like. That ended up being a bit more of a distraction from the story than I would have liked. In that sense it did have a bit of a first-novel feel.
But my main issue I guess was that everything was too easy. The majority of the obstacles in the story seemed to be one or both characters fearing something bad was going to happen, and then it not actually happening. So it made for a very comfortable read, but it felt a bit like the characters won the lottery — everything that could have gone wrong, didn’t. Is that a problem? I guess it depends on what you’re looking for. I don’t need every read to be super angsty, and it was actually nice to get over the will they/won’t they quite early and put the focus of the story elsewhere. But I still felt like the characters could have used a few more struggles than they actually got.
All that said, it was a sweet story and I enjoyed my time with it. I’ll be back for more to see how V and Grace make out.
October 26, 2020
This lifelong best friends to lovers tale has a few amusing complications to help move things along. These include a live-in ex-girlfriend and her daughter, a potentially disapproving mother and a father with a few secrets of his own. In addition, main character Jess spends so much time over-thinking life that she is unable to get out of her own way. Of course this does keep her from getting into too much trouble while Melissa figures out her approach.
In the end most of the relationship angst is over things that could happen rather than things that actually do happen. It all works out. The happy couple start life together with a house and a puppy (and a live-in ex-girlfriend and her daughter.)
In the end most of the relationship angst is over things that could happen rather than things that actually do happen. It all works out. The happy couple start life together with a house and a puppy (and a live-in ex-girlfriend and her daughter.)
October 22, 2025
Feels Like Home is cute but really odd. It just felt a little underdeveloped? It also had a YA sensibility in an adult romance (granted, it's just past New Adult).
If you're looking for a relatively angst-free, friends-to-lovers story, this may work for you. And I liked it enough to finish it, but I started this novel really rooting for Jess and V and had to reread the synopsis to make sure where the story was going and readjust my hopes and expectations.
Where this story is most intriguing is the idea of found family. The Jess and V relationship is interesting, even if it's not the romance. But the romance here is cute. I think my biggest letdown in this novel is Jess, actually.
I'll admit I'm a bit curious about the second book.
If you're looking for a relatively angst-free, friends-to-lovers story, this may work for you. And I liked it enough to finish it, but I started this novel really rooting for Jess and V and had to reread the synopsis to make sure where the story was going and readjust my hopes and expectations.
Where this story is most intriguing is the idea of found family. The Jess and V relationship is interesting, even if it's not the romance. But the romance here is cute. I think my biggest letdown in this novel is Jess, actually.
I'll admit I'm a bit curious about the second book.
July 20, 2020
Humorous friends to lovers!
This story of Jess and Melissa, who grew up together, was a nice change from so many angsty stories written today. Although there were some unexpected surprises, I liked that everyone really did accept them. They were friends forever, their social relationship had always been tactile, and everyone knew they belonged together. They were "home" for each other no matter where they lived. The addition of Grace and V as secondary characters added the friendship, love and a real family atmosphere. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to another by Ms. Cox!
This story of Jess and Melissa, who grew up together, was a nice change from so many angsty stories written today. Although there were some unexpected surprises, I liked that everyone really did accept them. They were friends forever, their social relationship had always been tactile, and everyone knew they belonged together. They were "home" for each other no matter where they lived. The addition of Grace and V as secondary characters added the friendship, love and a real family atmosphere. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to another by Ms. Cox!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews